CORPORATIONS: Sharp as a Razor

It was a big week for Gillette. First,
the razor blade company launched a $1,000,000 campaign to plug its new
bright blue plastic container for 20 blades (98¢). Next day, the board
of directors declared an extra dividend of 50¢ a share, raising 1947
dividends to $2.87½ a share, highest in the company's history. The
following day, Gillette's 3,457 employees got an extra week's pay as a
bonus for record production.

That evening, company foremen were guests at a champagne-confetti
blowout at Boston's Copley-Plaza Hotel, heard a short pep talk: "You've
done a damn good job, guys," said President Joseph P....